Has anyone brought their fiance's child to the USA?

[TucsonBill 0]

My fiance has a seven year old daughter that is just learning to speak english, (my fiance has a college degree in English and speaks fluently, as its part of her job also to deal with US customers). Her child has never know the father, or any father for that matter. I have about as good a relationship with this child as I can have, given our circumstances. I see her and wave when I am on webcam, I sent her gifts for birthday and Christmas. When I have visited, I've tried to make a special point to include her in activities and do things she wants to do. She seems to like me and calls me 'Uncle Bill' - and has even given her mother 'permission' to marry me - hehe!

I love children and have 3 of my own, (including an adopted 14 year old daughter), and everyone who knows me says I am a good father, (even my ex-wife).

I had to have reviews as a foster parent and as an adoptive parent and they were always very good and glowing reviews. This is all documented in the adoption file.

One question is in regards to the interview(s). Is there an actual interview with the child? I complete all the same paperwork for the child as I do my fiance. Will the consulate want to see anything that will support that I am a good father? Will they ask my fiance questions about her thoughts of my ability to be a father to her child? I have already sent some of this info to my fiance, who has also become friends with my daughter, (on webcam). Would any of this stuff be helpful to bring to the interview?

Next question is: What can I do to help the childs transition? I would just like to correspond with some other couples who have brought young children here that could not speak English. What kind of problems can I expect? Where I live, the public schools are required to assist children and provide special classes for 'English as a second language'. What are some other peoples experiences with this?

I would love to hear from other couples who have actually done what I am going to be doing. - Thanks!

[caroledfb 0]

Hi

Usually kids adapt very quickly, especially once they make friends at school ! They learn quickly the language !!!!

Good luck

[MikeAndIryna 0]

Just make sure that on all your docs that you name the child (ie I-129F cover letter) so that USCIS knows you know and are filing for a k-1 & k-2. Our daughter was at the interview (11 at the time) aand they did ask her ??'s, but only because she was there. Good luck.

[TucsonBill 0]

Just make sure that on all your docs that you name the child (ie I-129F cover letter) so that USCIS knows you know and are filing for a k-1 & k-2. Our daughter was at the interview (11 at the time) aand they did ask her ??'s, but only because she was there. Good luck.

I'd really like to know how your daughter is adapting. Did she speak much English before she came here? Does she go to public school? Did the school help her with English?

Thanks for for your input

Bill

[Keith & Xiang 0]

Just make sure that on all your docs that you name the child (ie I-129F cover letter) so that USCIS knows you know and are filing for a k-1 & k-2. Our daughter was at the interview (11 at the time) aand they did ask her ??'s, but only because she was there. Good luck.

I'd really like to know how your daughter is adapting. Did she speak much English before she came here? Does she go to public school? Did the school help her with English?

Thanks for for your input

Bill

My fiancee has an 11 year old daughter that will be coming to the United States as well. I'm very proud to say that she's my daughter though not my "biological" daughter. How difficult will it be to adopt her once I marry her mother? I'll be marrying her mother a week after she arrives in the United States. "Our" daughter's biological father had written a statement allowing my fiancee to bring our daughter to the United States so that we can be a family, is there other documentation that we need for him to sign prior to the adoption?

Thanks,

Keith

[isleta521 5]

I brought both my then fiance's (now Wife's) children ages 10 and 16 to US just a few months ago. I have two daughters also the same age as Val's (our) other children. The interviewer asked them if they wanted to migrate with their mom and live with me.

They start school here in about two weeks and will need help with ESL. The shools have told me that the kids will not have any problem at school not knowing much english. They have had no problem making friends including their many new cousins. My only big concern is the oldest really wants to take driving lessons (Yikes!) and start a part time job (awaiting EAD) but of course, he needs to learn to talk and write english much better first.

I think you will be alright and the best of luck to you.

Edited August 4, 2006 by isleta521

[TucsonBill 0]

My fiancee has an 11 year old daughter that will be coming to the United States as well. I'm very proud to say that she's my daughter though not my "biological" daughter. How difficult will it be to adopt her once I marry her mother? I'll be marrying her mother a week after she arrives in the United States. "Our" daughter's biological father had written a statement allowing my fiancee to bring our daughter to the United States so that we can be a family, is there other documentation that we need for him to sign prior to the adoption?

Thanks,

Keith

I have done some checking into that as well. You need to call the Juvenile court center in your area and talk to the adoption unit. Her father would have to be willing to relinquish his parental rights in order for you to adopt. In my case, the father has never provided any support or played any role in the childs life. Also, his whereabouts are unknown. His parental rights will have to be terminated before I can adopt. I am now looking into whether we should wait till she is here to do that, or have it done in Thailand beforehand, and just hope the judge here in the states will accept a ruling by the Thai courts, (certified and translated of course).

Bill

Edited August 4, 2006 by TucsonBill

[MikeAndIryna 0]

Our daughter had a little English in school while in the Ukraine, but was very timid and in awe when she arrived here. We didn't enroll her in summer school soon as she got here, so she could adapt. In our school district (suburb of Chicago) they had special classes for kids who didn't have English as a primary language source. They try to push them along, with the help of other students, to get up to speed and not so dependent on their native tongue. She has done well, and by the end of the year, was in regular English classes (though still take modified tests). We did send her to summer school this year, but for math (it's not the math, it's the comprehension of the math). All in all, she has done well and is now helping a little with new kids who speak Russian or Ukranian in her school of 800 kids.

As info, altough we had CD's to learn and books, plus the library - the easiest way my daughter & wife learned our langauge (well, still learning) was via closed captioning on the TV's. That takes out a lot of the accents & gets them to comprehend more.

[Billy 0]

Hi Bill

Make sure you have her birth certifcate. Name change certificate, if any. at the interview. Original or certified copy. Because, my case still pending with the consulate. Missing these documents. Good luck.

Bill

[RosaMystica7 0]

I have no experience with this, since I have no children of my own... but I do have an idea. Do you know any of the language that the child speaks? If not, try to learn it while you're waiting for them to move here, so you two could communicate directly (at least a little) without needing mom there to translate. I think that would help you two to keep bonding.

Edited August 4, 2006 by aselano

[TucsonBill 0]

I have no experience with this, since I have no children of my own... but I do have an idea. Do you know any of the language that the child speaks? If not, try to learn it while you're waiting for them to move here, so you two could communicate directly (at least a little) without needing mom there to translate. I think that would help you two to keep bonding.

Hehe - yes, I already have been learning Thai, (focusing on the spoken languge of course), but my misprounounciation has led to a few 'entertaining', (and sometimes embarassing), moments. Thai is not an easy language to speak, but I keep trying anyway!

Bill

[RosaMystica7 0]

I have no experience with this, since I have no children of my own... but I do have an idea. Do you know any of the language that the child speaks? If not, try to learn it while you're waiting for them to move here, so you two could communicate directly (at least a little) without needing mom there to translate. I think that would help you two to keep bonding.

Hehe - yes, I already have been learning Thai, (focusing on the spoken languge of course), but my misprounounciation has led to a few 'entertaining', (and sometimes embarassing), moments. Thai is not an easy language to speak, but I keep trying anyway!

Bill

It's like me and sports, I'm just... sportetically challenged, I suppose. I used to do missionary work in the South Bronx and the girls would want me to play basketball with them, which was a hillarious sight. I'd try to shoot and it'd fly over the backboard, and I'd say it counted because it went through all the poles attaching the thing to the cieling, they'd disagree, and we'd jokingly bicker about it. What mattered to them the most was that I was trying, and that I showed that I wanted to connect with them.

Edited August 4, 2006 by aselano

[TucsonBill 0]

Anyone else?

[TucsonBill 0]

I brought both my then fiance's (now Wife's) children ages 10 and 16 to US just a few months ago. I have two daughters also the same age as Val's (our) other children. The interviewer asked them if they wanted to migrate with their mom and live with me.

They start school here in about two weeks and will need help with ESL. The shools have told me that the kids will not have any problem at school not knowing much english. They have had no problem making friends including their many new cousins. My only big concern is the oldest really wants to take driving lessons (Yikes!) and start a part time job (awaiting EAD) but of course, he needs to learn to talk and write english much better first.

I think you will be alright and the best of luck to you.

The schools here tell me the same thing, let's hope they're right! I sure wish I knew another couple here in Tucson that had a girl about her age that came from Thailand, I guess I can try to make some inroads with the Thai community here. I worry that she'll be bored, because me being the youngest of my family, she won't have any cousins her age .

Bill